Genevra M. Williams

Genevra brings an insider’s perspective to her client’s issues. Prior to entering private practice, she was the sole in-house attorney for a prominent community foundation in Dallas, Texas, where she managed all issues related to legal compliance, board governance, and risk management. While in this role, she trained in-house staff, worked with ultra-high-net-worth donors, and consulted internal stakeholders on development and planned giving topics.

Genevra’s law practice focuses exclusively on the representation of tax-exempt organizations on a wide range of matters including governance, tax compliance, endowments, executive compensation, complex gifts, fiscal sponsorship structures, intellectual property issues, and employment matters. She has counseled private foundations, public charities, supporting organizations, community foundations, churches, and other religious organizations on a wide range of issues. In 2020, Genevra was selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, by Super Lawyers (a Thompson Reuters publication).

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Genevra worked in development in both for-profit and non-profit institutions, specializing in fundraising-related data evaluation and modeling.

“GPS for the Sky: A Survey of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and Its Implementation in the United States” 74 J. AIR L. & COM. 473 (2009)

“Gays in the Military – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Fails to Subject ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to a Strict Scrutiny Test: Witt v. Department of the Air Force” 74 J. AIR L. & COM. 143, 148 (2009)

"The Mendrygal Law team deftly navigated us through the transition from for-profit to non-profit. Our 1023 application was detailed with extensive exhibits to address any IRS questions before asked. We received our 501(c)(3) status with no questions or challenges, which is a testament to the thoroughness and experience of Danika and her entire team."
-Peter Poulides, Executive Director, Dallas Center for Photography

"When the Student Housing Foundation realized the time had come for a transition, we reached out to Genevra and her team. Their approach in making sure we understood every step of the process was a welcome relief. Genevra’s professionalism, patience, and guidance is why our Board enjoyed working with her, Danika, and the rest of the team. Genevra made us feel like a top priority and cared about what was best for us. We really appreciated what she did in getting the job done."
- Brenda McDonald, President, CCCCDF Student Housing Foundation

"Genevra did an amazing job listening to a very unique set of complex factors and then helping us think through how to strategically structure our new parent-teacher organization to address those factors. She went above and beyond and I am confident that our new organization is set up for success!"
- Maryjane Bonfield, President, Michael M. Boone Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization

"Danika and Genevra have been extremely helpful in guiding our PTA through a complex legal issue. They are clearly experts in the area of non-profit law. As an attorney myself, I really appreciate their excellent client service. Whenever we have a question, Genevra has been quick to respond with answers, suggestions, and meaningful legal advice."
- Christine Palmer, Executive Board member, McCulloch Intermediate School and Highland Park Middle School Parent Teacher Association